Amazon now lets users send Amazon Coins as gifts

Amazon on Thursday introduced a new option which should help spur additional downloads of Android games and apps – and developer revenue. Starting today, you can buy Amazon Coins as gifts for friends and family members. These coins, which have been around for much of 2013, can be used to pay for in-app stuff like new levels, songs, power-ups, and weapons.

Many of the games offered through the Amazon Appstore use the Amazon Coin currency; more than 100,000 as of today. In fact, many of the most popular games take advantage of the coins.

To gift the Amazon Coins you simply log into Amazon, purchase them, and send to an email address. In other words, it’s like the Amazon Gift Card system, but for Android money!

To help get things going, Amazon is hosting a promotion where customers can receive up to 20% off Amazon Coins. To get in on this deal you just have to purchase before January 5. As a reminder, al Kindle Fire owners receive 500 coins with each device.

Coin bundles include: 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000

Give the Gift of Coins This Holiday Season – Amazon Coins Lets Customers Gift Apps, Games and In-App Items to Kids and App-Savvy Friends and Family

Use Coins on over 100,000 apps and games in the Amazon Appstore

Gift Coins in bulk and receive a discount up to 20% for a limited time

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 12, 2013– (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Just in time for the holiday season, Amazon today announced that customers can purchase Amazon Coins and gift them for apps, games and in-app items in the Amazon Appstore and on Kindle Fire. Customers simply purchase a bundle of Coins on Amazon.com and an email is sent to the recipient to redeem. To celebrate the launch, customers receive up to 20% off when buying or gifting Coins through January 5. Giving the gift of Coins is a great way to introduce new customers to over 100,000 apps and games available in the Amazon Appstore, such as Angry Birds Star Wars II, Wheel of Fortune and Plants vs. Zombies. And, existing customers will love having extra Coins to use on in-app items such as new levels in Candy Crush Saga, recipes in iCookbook, or song collections in SongPop. Customers can gift Coins by visiting www.amazon.com/givecoins.

Amazon Coins became available for customers to purchase apps, games and in-app items in May and since that time hundreds of millions of Coins have been purchased. Here are a few fun facts about Coins:

• The top 5 purchased apps and games with Coins are Minecraft – Pocket Edition, Wheel of Fortune, Plants vs. Zombies (Kindle Tablet Edition), Bejeweled 2, and Scribblenauts Remix


• The single most purchased app using Coins is Minecraft – Pocket Edition


• The single most purchased in-app item using Coins is Get more lives! in Candy Crush


• The first app purchased with Coins was a tie between Jewel Legends: Tree of Life and Cut the Rope: Time Travel HD


• The woman pictured on the Coin was designed by Amazon and inspired by the Amazonian women of Greek mythology

“Customers love using Amazon Coins in the Amazon Appstore and on Kindle Fire to purchase apps and games,” said Mike George, Vice President of Apps and Games at Amazon. “We know that during the holidays finding that perfect gift can be hard. So, we’re making it easy for you to give the game-playing kids or app-savvy friends and family in your life just what they want – great apps and games to use on their phones and tablets. And remember, if you are a Kindle Fire owner, we automatically deposited 500 Coins in your account. So, if you haven’t used them yet, happy shopping.”

Here’s what customers have to say about Amazon Coins:

“Amazon Coins are such a simple, easy idea I’m excited for the future of it. Plus with the money you save it’s a no brainer.” – Dan, Amazon Coins customer

“I bought these Coins so I don’t have a lot of little charges on my credit card. I balance every single purchase I make, so writing down a silly 99 cent purchase my kids make can be annoying. I buy $10 worth of Coins every few months and I save 50 cents and I also don’t have to write down little purchases, so this is a win, win for me.” – J, Amazon Coins customer

“My daughter and I both have the Kindle Fire HD and the coins are a great way for us to stay on a budget. At the beginning of the month we each buy our Coins for the month.” – Devon, Amazon Coins customer

“Very good deal on Coins, I got at least 1 game paid for by Amazon and my money’s worth! Love Amazon and my Kindle.” – Nikki, Amazon Coins customer

Amazon Appstore developers will earn their standard 70% revenue share when customers make purchases using Amazon Coins. No Coins-specific changes are required for developers with apps and games currently in the Amazon Appstore. Customers can earn Coins when they purchase select apps and games and throughout the holiday season. The Amazon Appstore will have hundreds of titles that are either free or available between 50% – 90% off. The deals include popular titles like Super Why!, Where’s My Mickey, Monopoly, Angry Birds Star Wars II, NBA2K14, Wheel of Fortune and OfficeSuite Pro, among others.

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by Scott Webster via AndroidGuys